Low interest rates make for lots of home buyers and home sellers across the country.

By Stuart Lieberman,
Real Estate Expert (click here for bio)

Selling a home? Small fixups can yield large dividends.
A little paint inside and out will do the most to add value to your home. But there are other renovations you may want to consider.

These can be as simple as upgrading wood trim around windows and doors, replacing old sliding glass with real wood French doors, adding a wood floor in a dining room or hall, or attaching a small wood deck in the back yard.

The trick is to make your home as attractive as possible while keeping its price at the same or just slightly below the value of other homes in your neighborhood.

Buying a home? Pay attention to details.
Check drainage and landscape. Walk the property and think about how water would flow around the home during a downpour. Look at the landscape. Trees, shrubs or even grass planted around a home can absorb excess water, shade the home from sun and wind, and create a more inviting indoor environment.

Look for wood construction.
There's a reason that 9 of 10 homes are built from wood. Wood framed homes are not only durable, they're also made from the only major building material that's renewable and sustainable over the long term. Wood framed homes are also easier to repair, remodel and renovate, which means they're easier to adapt as you add value.

Ask about energy efficiency.
Ask about any special energy saving measures. If the home is built with wood, you're ahead of the game. Wood is the best natural insulator against cold and heat, which helps keep utility bills in check.

Consider a green built home.
Green homes save money on monthly utility bills and maintenance, provide better indoor air quality and have a reduced impact on our environment. For more information on building or buying a green home, please visit www.gbi.com.

Look at the windows.
Energy efficient thermal pane windows dramatically reduce energy bills. And, as an insulator, solid wood sashes and frames allow less heat and cold infiltration. Recent studies also show that wood windows consume less energy and generate about half as much waste as vinyl in comparative life cycles from manufacturing through their use in a home.

Look at the labels.
Make sure you ask the type and brand of furnace and air conditioner. Who manufactured the plumbing fixtures, electrical devices and lighting? What are the warranties? Are they EnergyStar rated? Getting the right answers to these questions will make your home easier and less costly to live in over the years.